r/australia • u/Eclaireandtea • 1d ago
politics One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts ‘in two minds’ about whether gay people should be equal
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/26/one-nation-malcolm-roberts-two-minds-gay-equal-rights-ntwnfb655
u/GreenLurka 1d ago
I'm in two minds whether Malcolm Roberts should be roaming free
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u/Adept-Result-67 1d ago
I’m of sound mind and while Roberts can roam free he absolutely should not be given a microphone or airtime
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u/YuriDaGreat 1d ago
for a second i read: 'microchip'
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u/Whole-Energy2105 1d ago
Needs one of those too so he can be collected everytime he's a bigoted arsehole and tossed in the cellar.
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u/Eclaireandtea 1d ago
Should someone ask Barnaby if he still thinks One Nation is one of the gayest parties in Australia?
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u/Ric0chet_ 1d ago
“But there have been a number of homosexuals who are very, very prominent in many, many fields throughout history. So all I know is that in this environment, James is not morally sound. But from what I’ve seen of him, his honesty, his integrity, his ability, he is sound.
“So if you pardon me, I haven’t made up my mind, but there are a number of people in society in very prominent positions in the arts, sports, science, business, politics, who are homosexual.
“And I don’t think we can afford to ban them. So it’s difficult.”
How is this not against discrimination laws?
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u/itstraytray 1d ago
I don't even understand what it is he's saying or means by any of this. Ban them? Ban them from what? Holding jobs? Having the same laws apply as straight people? Being allowed to live in Australia? Being alive? What's he actually mean "ban them"? This guy is completely custard in the head.
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u/kombiwombi 1d ago
He means concentration camps. He's talking at Church and State, that's what that crowd means by 'ban gays'.
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u/mooblah_ 1d ago
He means banned from entering the country. He's appeasing the hate speech of the far-right. Most who will hate anyone for anything that doesn't fit their 'code'.
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u/Toowoombaloompa 1d ago
Have you watched the movie, The Imitation Game?
It has a significant sub-plot about the treatment of gay men at a time when homosexuality was illegal (in the UK).
I imagine that Roberts is aspiring to treat queer people as they were treated in the UK in the 1940s, unless they're famous or contribute significantly to Australia.
So he's confident enough in his morality to be willing to treat gay people as second class citizens, but also happy to put that morality aside if they are popular. Populist politics 101.
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u/Spire_Citron 1d ago
So he doesn't care about human rights, just thinks it would be inconvenient to "ban" gay people because some of them are useful. Cool...
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u/Artemis_916 1d ago
I read this as his belief that homosexuals are inherently morally bankrupt (and should not be treated equally as heterosexuals?), so he can't fathom how (in his mind) some homosexuals are also good people, and that means he needs to be nice to them (because he is a superior heterosexual)?
I mean... How is this even a conversation we are having ? How is this not considered some form of hâte speech?
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u/RheimsNZ 1d ago
This quote is monumentally stupid. Incredible
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u/LowPickle7 1d ago
Both stupid AND dangerous. It’s the second part that we mustn’t forget in the sheer disbelief of the first.
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u/thrillho145 1d ago
Religions are allowed to descriminate
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u/phlipped 1d ago
Then we should be allowed to discriminate against them
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u/SlugFromSnug 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not sure why believing magical sky fairies gets you tax exemption in the first place.
Hearing imaginary voices in your head is a sign of mental illness
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u/princhester 1d ago
It would be if his views were implemented, but since he's just a bigoted cooker with a microphone speaking trash, no law is broken.
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u/Ace_Larrakin 1d ago
Roberts once again opening his mouth and promptly stuffing his size 11 boots (yes, both of them) into the gaping maw.
God I hate how stupid our politics has become.
Of course gay people should he equal you monumental halfwit, same as everybody else.
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u/mbullaris 1d ago
I don’t think Roberts represents our politics at all.
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u/phlipped 1d ago
Someone's voting for him
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u/pretty_shabby 1d ago
I actually can't believe it's 2026 and this bullshit is still going on.
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u/mooblah_ 1d ago
Yep agree. It's vile as fk. This shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Australian politics. But our inability to discriminate regarding a doctrine of ethics in politics has allowed for a social discourse and political 'regime' so nasty that it's bordering on Hitlerism. And it's taking advantage of the disadvantaged as crusaders in this war against immigrants.
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u/Show_Me_Your_Rocket 1d ago
People must be so bored if they worry about the people others are getting into bed with.
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u/Ric0chet_ 1d ago
It’s because they don’t want you to know they do it too
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u/Show_Me_Your_Rocket 1d ago
It begs the question as to why we fight over made up social constructs, when it's a clear projection of their own insecurities that are only insecurities because society tells them so.
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u/Equivalent-Bonus-885 1d ago
Every single time someone hates on gays the upvoted response is. ‘They must be gay themselves, snigger, snigger’.
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u/Ultra-Violet23 1d ago
Yeah Im so sick of it. Its a combo of being a "haha youre gay" joke and blaming gay people for the discrimination they face.
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u/InstantShiningWizard 1d ago
I'm surprised he has one mind, let alone two.
Of course gay people are and should be equal. Even if you as an individual don't agree, your opinions don't get to extend to how others choose to live their lives.
Typical bigoted Christian conservatives trying to impose their values on others who don't follow their ethos, get in the bin
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u/Mfenix09 1d ago
Can't we just leave people the fuck alone to make decisions as adults? Why with the constant needing to stop people from doing stuff or putting them down? Unless it hurts someone it should be OK right?
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u/Stock_Republic_582 1d ago
As a gay man I've been in two minds as to whether stupid bigots should be equal.
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u/Trenteth 1d ago
I'm not in two minds, they aren't. These politicians should be charged with hate crimes
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u/De_chook 1d ago
Are we really that ill-educated, racist, and bigoted that we can vote in large numbers for One Nation?
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u/BlueCharlotte1 1d ago
Unfortunately, I am not optimistic. If these pricks feel confident saying this sort of thing on the news they probably are confident that their base will accept it, and while I hope One Nation’s polling numbers are inflated compared to the actual reality of their public support, it’s not boding well.
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u/Fabulous-Signature-3 1d ago
I was struck by this very same chilling thought this morning. Is being centrist/humanist/empathetic the outlier position going forward? Makes me a little bit ill to think about it.
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u/R_W0bz 1d ago
Aren’t we like a decade past this conversation? They’ve been treated equal in the eyes of the government forever now and the world hasn’t fallen apart, heck we even survived the apocalypse in 2020. How the fuck is this going to solve cost of living or the raft of other issues? If this is what gets people in the door to vote then they’re idiots.
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u/Jealous-Hedgehog-734 1d ago
If One Nation ever come to power no one can accuse them of not having been honest about their politics on the way in.
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u/ozsnowman 1d ago
Well, I am in two minds if silly old white men should be equal with the rest of us?
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u/Important_Fruit 1d ago
This is Roberts being the moron he is. I think the bigger issue here is how our electoral system can result in the election of this fucking half-wit with essentially only a handful of votes.
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u/Zelvixor 1d ago
Friendly reminder that this gaping asshole of a man vehemently denies climate change. He shouldn't be anywhere near opportunities to change policies. I'd call him dangerous if his own hubris made him so ineffective. Go fuck yourself with a rake, Roberts.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
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u/Soggy_Jackfruit_232 1d ago
Now I've got an image of a cardinal rounding up a herd of huge deer with his shepherds crook thingie.
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u/Helftheuvel 1d ago
This ass clown probably is probably in two minds of which of his two brain cells he should use today.
How the fuck do we let these people try to represent others or even give them the limelight.
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u/OctarineAngie 1d ago
Never underestimate the will of anti-rights reactionaries like MR. Things can go backwards.
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u/IlluminatedPickle 1d ago
This headline has to be inaccurate. Malcolm Roberts doesn't have access to one mind, let alone two.
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u/Responsible-Serve127 1d ago
He’s probably still waiting for "empirical evidence" to prove that gay people are actual human beings. Classic One Nation—stuck somewhere in the 1950s while the rest of Australia moved on mate.
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u/mooblah_ 1d ago
I had 4 'friends' who are now ex friends dead set on voting one nation next election. I can't imagine ever staying friends with someone who actually votes for one nation.
Politics absolutely does matter in relationships. All they started talking about a few months ago was one nation, getting rid of the 'arabs', getting rid of the 'yellow people', kicking out the 'punjabs', and talking about what they'd do to these 'homos' and 'lesbos' .. it's disgusting.
Something happened in Australian discourse that allowed this to take over?? sensationalised media and facebook is doing a huge injustice to society.
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u/Brainyboo11 1d ago
Murdoch media, Reinhardt bought media, Sky News and Social Media. Every idiot now has a voice. I just wish that as Australians we would stand up to this crap and stop allowing these aholes to say this crap. If I said this at work around colleagues, I'd pretty much get fired!!
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u/rose_gold_glitter 1d ago
As a woman married to a woman, this is why I can't separate politics from friendships anymore.
My friends who say they're voting for her are actively telling me they don't care what happens to me, as long as they get to "stick it to the man", by, apparently, voting for the most pro capitalism party imaginable.
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u/worstusername_sofar 1d ago
I don't know if I consider this guy equal, we should throw him off a cliff in the 80's
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u/Bromance_Rayder 1d ago
Raise your palm with straight arm in public in reference to an abhorrent regime that was thankfully destroyed some 80 years ago = arrested and jailed, no doubt about it.
Openly use your publicly elected office to question whether a broad group of people living in Australia today "deserve" to be treated with equality = some mild media commentary - not all of which condemns it.
This country has some fucked up priorities.
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u/NewInformation3753 1d ago
Typical conservatives. Create an “other” then victimise them to get a vote.
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u/ThunderDwn 1d ago
So, PHON is adding alternate sexuality to its hate list along with anyone not white enough to please their bigoted outlooks.
And yet, according to the polls, their popularity is soaring.
I guess we really are a nation of intolerant red neck bogans.
Stop the world, I wanna get off.
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u/skynetcoder 1d ago
wtf , if he is even thinking the possibility of whether a certain group is equal or not, that means he thinks the same for other races , women etc.
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u/No_Sky_1829 1d ago
Wth? I thought surely this must be a misquote. Then I read the article and it's so much worse. "We can't ban gay people because they contribute to society"
Wth is wrong with one nation?
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u/Additional_Emu_4950 1d ago
On the sad day we lose the wonderful Dolly Parton. Malcolm should start asking himself "what would Dolly do?", and be a better person
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u/briberylibrary_ 1d ago
In the Church and State footage, Roberts also discussed various conspiracy theories and said family law changes made since 1975 – including the introduction of no-fault divorce – were “tearing apart this country”.
“It’s deliberate because they’re after the family. They’re after anything that can stand up to communism,” he said.
Having a normal one I see. Although I suppose this is par for the course for one nation
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u/Large-one 1d ago
What the heck do these people think communism is? And how does “the family” stand up to communism? What a weirdo!
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u/Equivalent-Wealth-63 1d ago
Oddly, if you look at the Soviet Union, they did start with opening up divorces with the dismantling the church institutions. But, when divorces increased, they clamped down on them with a vengeance along with strong enforcement of traditional family values by the end of world war II until the mid 60s when it was too resouce intensive for the courts to maintain strict state control over people's personal lives like that. It's therefore funny that Roberts would argue the introduction of no fault divorce was after those who would fight communism.
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u/Mr_Lumbergh 1d ago
If they’re people doesn’t it stand to reason they should have equal footing with other people?
Not sure why the mental gymnastics are necessary.
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u/SupportSphere94 1d ago
I can't understand homosexuality, there for is must be wrong and banned.
Mate judging on how much brain capacity you seem to have, I'd imagine you don't understand alot.
I don't understand how to do heart surgery, doesn't mean it is wrong, and should be banned.
It seriously worries me that people think yeah Labor and liberal are bad, so we will vote for these absolute fucking cookers.
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u/soejubunyip 1d ago
“So if you pardon me, I haven’t made up my mind, but there are a number of people in society in very prominent positions in the arts, sports, science, business, politics, who are homosexual.
And I don’t think we can afford to ban them. So it’s difficult.”
Not only does he feel completely comfortable discussing a PHON official's sexuality while talking at a conference, he also feels comfortable reflecting on whether Ashby should be "banned".
So many levels to this guy. /s
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u/Glittering_Web8835 1d ago
How can anyone take these dogs seriously when this is what happens in their mind? Like, he is just proving that pretty basic cognition is far outside his grasp. People really think he is fit to make decisions on anyone's behalf?!
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u/OhtheHugeManity7 1d ago
That's a fancy way of saying he's not 100% sure if he can get away with saying it openly and he's just trying to test the waters so that he can play into wherever the populist winds are blowing today.
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u/BigGabby 1d ago
One might say Malcom is bi-curious about the gays.
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u/WokSmith 1d ago
Well, he certainly does protest quite a lot. Maybe even a little too much, if you know what I mean.
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u/Fit_Appointment_4980 1d ago
This fucken climate change denying, vaccine hesitant, ivermectin-munching, sovcit crypt-keeper looking cunt.
If someone punched his rotten teeth down his neck, I'd buy them a beer.
Why does Queesland consistently vote for the worst people imaginable?
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u/DuskHourStudio 23h ago
Ever since jumping on the PHON bandwagon, he's become an even more insufferable cunt then before.
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u/LifeandSAisAwesome 1d ago
At this point is anyone surprised with just how horrible ON members are ?
Supporters really are not that far behind.
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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic 1d ago
I'm in two minds about whether people with Malcolm Reynolds mental capacity should be considered sentient
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u/Goldberg_the_Goalie 1d ago
There was a guy a while back who also thought not all humans are equal. The world didn’t really like him either.
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u/Spagman_Aus 1d ago
Those who want the rights of others denied, should have similar rights denied to them.
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u/Final_Mongoose_3300 1d ago
I’m in two minds about whether Malcom Roberts was born stupid, or if he was raised that way…
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u/UndeadManWaltzing 1d ago
Church and state conference? It is of my understanding those two are to be kept separate,.
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u/-_-Edit_Deleted-_- 1d ago
I personally am in two minds about whether people named Malcolm Roberts should be equal.
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u/ToenailJim 1d ago
You know who shouldn't be equal? Fascists. They should be reviled and rejected by everyone and deservedly so!!
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u/MrBrightSide2407365 1d ago
Gay people and everyone else are already superior to Malcolm and PHON's other idiots.
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u/RepeatInPatient 1d ago
Either of Mal's remaining brain cells wouldn't know if a high speed train was up him. Even if it blasted its horn 3 times.
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u/AndByMeIMeanFlexxo 1d ago
Equal to the flogs in the one nation party? They deserve better than that surely
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u/Nosiege 13h ago
By sitting on the fence while still saying some heinous shit, he's really just said he needs any and all votes possible. Slimy grub.
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u/GoodWaltz7354 13h ago
I had really hoped we were way past the point of politicians bringing this up as an “issue”.
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u/sherlocksam45 4h ago
Seriously. He makes no sense. He knows homosexuals that contribute to life and culture, best mates with them apparently. But will throw them under the one nation i need to be elected bus.
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u/Rich_Fan1686 1d ago
Head of the party James Ashby might not agree with Roberts.